Method of and System for Finding Physical Locations of Servers

ABSTRACT

A method of and system for finding the physical location of a server positions a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at known locations in an area. Each RFID tag has unique location information. A server is coupled to a collocated RFID tag reader. Upon power up, the server performs a scan with its collocated RFID tag reader. The server determines its physical location with respect to at least one scanned RFID tag. The server storing its physical location of said server. Upon receiving a location request, the server returning its physical location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to the field of server farm or data center operation, and more particularly to a method of and system for finding the physical location of a server in server farm or data center.

2. Description of the Related Art

Data centers and server farms comprise large numbers of servers that may be located at several different physical locations. When a server needs to be serviced, it can be very difficult to find the physical server reporting a problem or needing attention. Several methods have been devised to find the physical locations of servers. In one method, the server needing attention produces a flashing light or other visible signal. In another common method, a system administrator keeps a table or chart showing the correspondence between each servers system designation, i.e., IP address, system host name, etc., and its physical location in the data center.

The visual signaling method may not work and large data centers spanning multiple rooms, buildings, or sites. A technician may not even know where to look for the flashing light. A shortcoming of the table or chart method is that it is difficult to keep the table or chart current. Server names and locations may be changed often. The chart or table must be updated every time a server is moved or replaced or given a new system name.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of and system for finding the physical location of a server. The method positions a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at known locations in an area. Each RFID tag has unique location information. A server is coupled to a collocated RFID tag reader. Upon power up, the server performs a scan with its collocated RFID tag reader. The server determines its physical location with respect to at least one scanned RFID tag. The server storing its physical location of said server. Upon receiving a location request, the server returning its physical location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a data center room according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment RFID tag location data according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of service processor location determination according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an embodiment server location notification according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to drawings, and first to FIG. 1, a system according to the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 100. System 100 comprises a server farm or data center. System 100 includes a plurality of servers 101 located at a plurality of areas 103. Areas 103 may be rooms in buildings. Areas 103 may be located in the same building or in different buildings in different cities.

Each server 101 includes a service processor 105 and a system vital product data (VPD) file 107. System VDP file may be stored in local memory of server 101. Server 101 is coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader 109. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, service processor 105 is programmed to operate RFID reader 109 to scan RFID tags positioned at known locations within area 103 to determine physical location of each server 101. Service processor 105 is further programmed to store physical location information determined from RFID reader 109 and system VDP file 107. In the preferred embodiment, a server 101 updates its VPD physical location file every time the server is powered on. Thus, whenever a server 101 is moved to a new location, it automatically updates its physical location information.

Each server 101 and system 100 is coupled to a network, indicated generally at 111. Network 111 may be a local area network, a wide area network, a virtual private network, a wireless network, a fiber Channel network, or any other network. An administration server 113 may be coupled to network 111. Administration server 113 is adapted to request physical location information from servers 101. Customers or other user devices may also be coupled to network 111.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an area 103. Area 103 has installed therein a grid of RFID tags 201. Each RFID tag 201 is positioned at a known location in area 103. RFID tags 201 may be positioned in the ceiling of area 103 are in or on the floor of area 103. RFID tags 201 may also be positioned in or on fixed equipment racks located in area 103.

Each RFID tag 201 has stored therein location information uniquely associated with its location in area 103. FIG. 3 illustrates a format of location data stored in an RFID tag 201. Location data includes a city/building number 301, a data center room number 303, and a room grid number 305. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other data formats may be used.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of service processor physical location processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. The service processor is powered on, at block 401. The service processor initializes its associated RFID reader, at block 403. Then, the service processor starts an RFID read operation, as indicated at block 405, by scanning for nearby RFID tags. If, as determined at decision block 407, no RFID tag is located, the service processor turns off the RFID reader, at block 409 and generates an “Unknown Location” VDP record, at block 411. If, as determined at decision block 407, an RFID tag is found, the service processor saves the tag data in a temporary list, at block 413. If, as determined at decision block 415, more tags are found, processing returns to block 413. If no more tags are found, the service processor turns off the RFID reader, at block 417, and determines the nearest grid location coordinate, as indicated at block 419. The nearest grid coordination may be the location of the closest or only RFID tag found. The closest RFID tag is the tag producing the strongest signal. Alternatively, the service processor may calculate a grid location based upon signal strengths produced by multiple RFID tags in a manner known to those skilled in the art. After determining the nearest grid coordinate, at block 419, the service processor generates a VPD record with the location information, as indicated at block 421. After having generated a VPD record at, block 411 or block 421, the service processor saves to VPD record and its system VPD storage area, at block 423.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of location request processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. If as determined at decision block 501, the service processor receives a location request, the service process returns its VDP location record and server serial number, as indicated at block 503. With that information, a person can find the server.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that systems and methods according to the present invention are well adapted to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. While the present invention has been described with reference to presently preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art, given the benefit of the foregoing description, will recognize alternative embodiments. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. 

1. A method of finding the physical location of a server, which comprises: performing a scan with an RFID tag reader coupled to server; determining a physical location of said server with respect to at least one scanned RFID tag, RFID tag having a known location; and, storing said physical location of said server.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RFID tag reader is collocated with said server.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scan is performed in connection with powering up said server.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: positioning a plurality of RFID tags at known positions in an area, each said RFID tag having unique location information.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving a location request at said server; returning said physical location in response to said location request.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: returning server identifying information along with said physical location.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical location is the known location of a nearest scanned RFID tag.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical location is determined from the known position of a plurality of scanned RFID tags.
 9. A server system, which comprises: a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags positioned at known locations in an area, each of said RFID tags having stored thereon its know location; a plurality of servers in said area, each said server comprising: an RFID tag reader; means for scanning with said RFID tag reader; and, means for determining a physical location of said server with respect to the known location of at least one scanned RFID tag.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said server further comprises: means for returning said physical location in response to a location request.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said server further comprises: means for storing said physical location.
 12. A method of finding the physical location of a server, which comprises: positioning a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at known locations in an area, each said RFID tag having unique location information; powering up a server, said server being coupled to a collocated RFID tag reader; performing a scan with said RFID tag reader; determining a physical location of said server with respect to at least one scanned RFID tag; storing said physical location of said server; receiving a location request for said server; and, returning said physical location information in response to said location request. 